Houston Texans linebacker Brian Cushing has yet to practice in training camp, still recovering from offseason knee surgery. Coach Gary Kubiak could pretend not to be worried. But he is.

“I’m concerned,” Kubiak told the Houston Chronicle. “He needs to get out here and go to work with his buddies. … It’s hard to be at your best when you’re missing a lot of time, so we need to get him out there.”

Cushing’s play dropped off last season, after he was named the 2009 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year. He was suspended for the first four games of last season for having above normal levels of hCg in his system. Cushing has denied ever using performance-enhancing substances.

Now Kubiak wants to see Cushing perform as an inside linebacker in the Texans’ new 3-4 alignment. The Texans, under new coordinator Wade Phillips, believe their defense will be vastly improved. However, having a healthy Cushing in top form would make Phillips’ job easier.